The State Board of Elections ruled this morning that Mark Zalcman, who was challenging incumbent Republican Rep. David Leitch, lacked enough signatures to qualify for the March 18 GOP primary ballot.

"It wasn't unexpected," Zalcman, a Chillicothe attorney, said about the ruling.

Though he was only slightly over the 500-signature threshold when he submitted his petitions to run in the sprawling 73rd House District that runs from roughly Northmoor Road in Peoria east into Woodford County and north to communities near Interstate 80, Zalcman said having more people sign on would have given him a needed cushion.

"We just didn't have enough overage, you might say," he said. "...Close, but no cigar."

Ultimately he fell about 40 signatures short, with folks signing petitions despite not being registered to vote, or not living anymore at the address where their registrations had them listed as living.

Though he's off the ballot, Zalcman said he "got a lot of positive response" from citizens to his brief candidacy and that he would consider making a future bid for the same post or for Congress.

"I think people are tired of incumbents and insiders running things," he said.

No other lawmakers locally had drawn primary challenges, though many will see contests in the Nov. 4 general election.

Chris Kaergard can be reached at 686-3135 or ckaergard@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisKaergard